We made heavy weather of beating St Mirren yesterday, but we got there in the end, and that’s the most important thing. Once again Don Robertson was a hindrance to what we were trying to achieve, playing fast attacking football. The Saints keeper had a good game, and we hit the woodwork four times, but Robertson is an embarrassment to Scottish Football, the guy is actually hopeless. We had 76% possession, but still had more fouls given against us than St Mirren had, we also had two yellow cards to Saints one.
We knew exactly how St Mirren would play, exactly the way they always play against us, deep defence and frustrate Celtic. Their keeper was wasting time from the opening minutes, then Stephen Robinson claims Celtic were wasting time after going in front with five minutes to go, I think Robbo might get invited to the Comedy Club in Glasgow the next time it’s on. It’s like playing against a basketball team, all their players are giants, I think we will see that in a lot of the opposition teams this season, we don’t need a ref, we need an air traffic controller.
It’s clear as day that we need a few more players in, especially in the front area of the team, we look decent along the back when we add Jahmai Simpson-Pusey from City, but if Brendan decides to send Hayato Inamura out on loan then we need cover for Kieran Tierney. We also look strong along the middle, we have a good choice of at least six players in there, which showed when Luke Mc Cowan came on and scored yesterday, maybe another number 6 to cover for Callum. It’s along the front we are short since we have lost three first pick players out of there, I was surprised we never seen Shin Yamada yesterday, possibly not up to fitness yet, I’m certain we will see additions in that area, I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later, although I agree, it’s imperative we get the right player for our club, we can’t buy just to spend money, that would be wrong.
While I’m happy to see Simpson-Pusey arrive from Manchester City, and he looks like a really good addition to our squad, but what message does that send to Dane Murray, who impressed in the pre-season games he played in, and the same goes for Colby Donovan and Sean Mc Ardle, if we have an option to buy Pusey that’s different, but if not, why are we developing a player for City instead of ourselves. We had the perfect advert for the young players at Celtic yesterday, in the shape of “The Maestro Paul Mc Stay” that’s what can be achieved at Celtic, if you have the technical ability, and are prepared to work hard, you will get your rewards, it’s just a pity Paul played for us in an era when we were skint, and the Oldco were as usual doing the dodgy dealing, but he got his just rewards when he was voted by the supporters into Celtic’s Greatest Ever Team in 2002.
It was a brilliant Tifo by the Green Brigade for Lisbon Lion’s John Clark and John Fallon, both were Celtic through and through, and I was honoured to call them friends, and meet them regularly. They will be sadly missed. Requiescat in aeternum pace John and the Original Holy Goalie.
Glasgow’s still Green & White.
